Invocation by Harry Richardson

That Fear Him

for as the heavens
are high above the
earth so great is his
mercy toward those
that fear him

for you knoweth our frame

Love Is Perfect

here it is
my one love
it's not perfect
(sometimes I fuck it up)

here you are
my one love
you're quite perfect

so I come
make no plans
vow no maybes
when you need me around

I'll pitch this game
are you watching
dressed as a field
fed as a bird
still expectations, disappoint
it's so obvious, if you want love
don't go hiding, killing, striving
my one love, my one love

Repeat Offender

love, lift me up
from this table with my broken cup
once, one more time
so familiar, it's the same old crime
I grieve, I grieve
for all I've said
for all I've done
for all you had that I didn't want

I take off my shoes here, I stretch out my hands
till they resemble the marks of your man
I lay down my burdens, I'll do it tonight
till I feel your weight on me, and your fire is my light

Collect by Molly Kenzler

Sometimes, as we quiet our minds,
as we quiet our hearts,
as the noise around us slowly fades away,
what begins as silence can soon begin to feel like emptiness.

But, as we are reminded by the Orthodox Bishop Kalistos Ware,
"Silence is not emptiness but fullness, and in the heart of it is God."

Please take the next few moments to rest, rest in the presence of God.

Oh God, Where Are You Now? by S. Stevens

oh God, hold me now
oh Lord, hold me now
there's no other man who could raise the dead
so do what you can to anoint my head

oh God, where are you now?
oh Lord, say somehow
the devil is hard on my face again
the world is a hundred to one again
would the righteous still remain?
would my body stay the same?

oh God, hold me now
oh God, touch me now
there's no other man who could save the dead
there's no other God to place our head

would the righteous still remain?
would my body stay the same?
there's no other man who could raise the dead
so do what you can to anoint my head

oh God, hold me now
oh Lord, touch me now

Love is Perfect (reprise)

I'll pitch this game
are you watching
dressed as a field
fed as a bird
still expectations, disappoint
it's so obvious, if you want love
don't go hiding, kill this strife

Love Is Fear

where is peace, when's this end
filling spaces with answers to depend on and on,
and I can't recall
something's missing (where is peace), something's missing (when's this end)
questions in twine
but why, but why

some of love overcomes, some is fear
those real enough, and those we make up
some of love opens up, some just kills
those under us, we cover up

when'd you leave, alone in bed (something's missing)
you promised love in the shallow and deep end, but then
I can't see far
are you listening (when'd you leave), are you listening (alone in bed)
answers entwined
in-kind, in-kind

some of love overcomes, some is fear
those real enough, and those we make up
some of love opens up, some just kills
those under us, we cover up
some of love overcomes, overcomes

If Today

if today
you hear my voice
harden not your hearts

Supplication by Tim Soerens

Lord,
Here we are and we don't really want to hide from you. Some of us have shame that cuts so deep that we're terrified to let you near. And some of us are so angry, but if we let go of that anger we're afraid that we would simply go numb. And some of us are hiding and we're not even sure why, but you must know we don't really want to hide from you.

And God, you must know we don't want to hide from the realities of our city that are, but should not be. We don't want to hide from the fact that in 2008 Seattle is still a segregated city. We don't want to hide from the reality that men, women, and children who bearing your image are sold into slavery in our city. And we don't want to hide from the reality that our city has so much wealth, and yet pours money into the vacuum of consumerism.

And Lord you must know that we don't really want to hide from the victory you have already won. We don't want to hide from the vision of melting the swords of violence into tools that care for your creation.

And Lord, you must know that we don't want to hide from your dream of putting everything back together as you intended.

Psalm 13

o Lord, how long will you forget me, forever?
how long will you look the other way?
how long must I struggle with anguish in my soul
with sorrow in my heart every day?
how long will my enemy have the upper hand?
turn and answer me, o Lord my God
restore the sparkle to my eyes or I will die

don't let my enemies triumph over me
don't let them rejoice at my downfall

but I trust in your unfailing love
my heart will rejoice for you have rescued me

I will sing to the Lord
for he has been good to me

I will sing
I will sing
I will sing
I will sing

O Sacred Head, Now Wounded by Bernard of Clairvaux, H. Hassler, & J.S. Bach

o sacred head, now wounded,
with grief and shame weighed down
now scornfully surrounded
with thorns thine only crown
o sacred head, what glory
what bliss till now was thine
yet, though despised and gory
I joy to call thee mine

what thou, my Lord, hast suffered
was all for sinners' gain
mine, mine was the transgression
but thine the deadly pain
lo, here I fall, my savior
'tis I deserve thy place
look on me with thy favor
vouchsafe to me thy grace

what language shall I borrow
to thank thee, dearest friend
for this thy dying sorrow
thy pity without end?
o make me thine forever
and should I fainting be
Lord, let me never, never
outlive my love to thee